Connection systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A connector apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a housing having at least a first aperture and a second aperture. The apparatus can further include a hollow, flexible member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the hollow, flexible, member can be non-detachably attached to the first aperture. The second end of the hollow, flexible, member can be detachably attached to the second aperture. The apparatus can also include a tensioning member disposed to bias the hollow, flexible, member towards the housing.

BACKGROUND

Portable electronic devices play an increasingly important role ineveryday life. Consumer expectations have increased to the point thatportable electronic devices are routinely subjected to conditions thatwould have previously been the death-knell for electronic devices. Forexample, consumers now expect that routine exposure of the electronicdevice to water and dust not impact the functionality of the device. Forelectronic devices having a multitude of input and output ports,exposure to water or dust can be potentially catastrophic, resulting infailure of the port, or worse yet, failure of the entire device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of one or more disclosed embodiments may become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view depicting one example of a connectorapparatus, according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 1A is a partial sectional view depicting one example of theconnector apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, according to one or moreembodiments described herein;

FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view depicting one example of theconnector apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, according to one or moreembodiments described herein;

FIG. 2A is a partial sectional view depicting one example of theconnector apparatus depicted in FIG. 2, according to one or moreembodiments described herein;

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view depicting one example of a connectorsystem, according to one or more embodiments described herein; and

FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view depicting another example of theconnector system depicted in FIG. 3, according to one or moreembodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Electronic devices frequently fail when exposed to dusty or moistenvironments. With the growing number of portable electronic devices,users will frequently carry such devices outdoors where exposure to dustand moisture is all but inevitable. Input and output ports (“I/O ports”)are included on many portable electronic devices to enable theattachment of peripheral electronic components to the device, forexample a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) port is often included to supportthe attachment of numerous peripheral devices. The ability to preventthe incursion of dust and moisture through an I/O port into theelectronic device is essential to minimize the likelihood of prematurefailure of the device when the user purposely or unwittingly exposes thedevice to such conditions.

A connector apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a housinghaving at least a first aperture and a second aperture. The apparatuscan further include a hollow, flexible member having a first end and asecond end. The first end of the hollow, flexible, member can benon-detachably attached to the first aperture. The second end of thehollow, flexible, member can be detachably attached to the secondaperture. The apparatus can also include a tensioning member disposed tobias the hollow, flexible, member towards the housing.

A connection method is also provided. The method can includenon-detachably attaching a first end of a hollow, flexible member to afirst aperture disposed within a housing. The method can also includedetachably attaching a second end of the hollow, flexible member to asecond aperture disposed within the housing. The method can furtherinclude routing at least a portion the hollow, flexible member in achannel disposed at least partially on a surface of the housing. Themethod can additionally include biasing the hollow, flexible member atleast partially within the channel using a tensioning member.

A connector system is also provided. The system can include anelectronic device at least partially disposed within a housing having afirst aperture and a second aperture. The system can further include ahollow, flexible member including a first end and a second end routedacross at least one surface forming the housing. The first end of thehollow, flexible, member can be non-detachably attached to at least aportion of the first aperture. The second end of the hollow, flexible,member can be detachably attached to at least a portion of the secondaperture. The system can also include a tensioning member disposed tobias the hollow, flexible member towards the housing.

For clarity and ease of discussion, FIGS. 1 and 1A will be discussed indetail as a group. FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view depicting oneexample of a connector apparatus 100, according to one or moreembodiments. FIG. 1A is a partial sectional view depicting one exampleof the connector apparatus 100 as depicted in FIG. 1, according to oneor more embodiments. In at least some embodiments, the connectorapparatus 100 can include a housing 105 having at least a first aperture110 and a second aperture 115 disposed thereupon. A hollow, flexible,member 120 having a first end 125 and a second end 130 can be disposedbetween the first aperture 110 and the second aperture 115, therebyproviding an enclosed pathway or conduit linking the two apertures 110,115. A tensioning member 135 can be used to bias the hollow, flexible,member 120 towards the housing 105. In at least some embodiments, thehollow, flexible, member 120 can be routed at least partially within achannel 140 disposed on the surface of the housing 105, for example onan exterior surface of the housing 105 as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 1A.

The housing 105 can include any housing suitable for the partial orcomplete disposal of an electronic device therein. Illustrative,non-limiting, examples of housings 105 can include portable computingdevice cases, cellular communication device cases, portable media playercases, and the like. The housing 105 can be a metallic or non-metallichousing. The first aperture 110 and the second aperture 115 can bedisposed at any location on the housing 105 with respect to each other,for example the first aperture 110 can be disposed on the “bottom” ofthe housing 105, while the second aperture 115 can be disposed on the“side” of the housing 105.

The terms “top,” “bottom,” “side,” and other like or similar terms usedherein refer to relative positions to another and are not intended, norshould be interpreted, to denote a particular absolute direction orspatial orientation. For example, a feature described as being on the“bottom” surface of a device could be on the “top” surface or a “side”surface of the device if the device is rotated or inverted; suchrotation or inversion is envisioned to be fully incorporated within thescope of one or more claimed embodiments disclosed or otherwisedescribed herein.

The first end 125 and the second end 130 can provide the terminal pointsfor the hollow, flexible, member 120. The hollow, flexible, member 120can have any shape, geometry, or length suitable for connecting thefirst aperture 110 with the second aperture 115. In at least someembodiments, the hollow, flexible, member 120 can include any suitablyflexible, pliable, or deformable material, for example natural orman-made rubbers, flexible polymer or copolymers, elastomeric compounds,or similar flexible materials. In at least some embodiments, the hollow,flexible, member 120 can connect all or a portion of an interior spacewithin the housing 105 to an exterior space surrounding the housing.

The hollow, flexible, member 120 can be biased towards the surface ofthe housing 105 by one or more tensioning members 135. In at least someembodiments, the tensioning member 135 can be anchored to the housing105. In at least some embodiments, the tensioning member 135 can bedisposed at least partially about the exterior periphery of the hollow,flexible, member 120 as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 1A. In at least someembodiments, the tensioning member 135 can bias any slack within thehollow, flexible, member 120 towards the housing 105, and in someembodiments, at least a portion of the flexible member 120 biasedtowards the housing 105 can partially or completely retract into arecess formed within the surface of the housing. In at least someembodiments, the hollow, flexible, member 120 can be distorted, forexample by squeezing, to permit the passage of one or more objects, forexample one or more conductors, through the flexible member 120. In atleast some embodiments, all or a portion of the flexible member 120, thefirst end 110 and the second end 115 can be partially or completelydisposed within a channel 140 on a surface of the housing 105, forexample a channel on an external surface of the housing 105 as depictedin FIGS. 1 and 1A.

In at least some embodiments, a rigid flange can be at least partiallyembedded within the first end 125 of the flexible member 120. In one ormore embodiments, one or more fasteners 145, for example one or morethreaded fasteners, can be attached to the flange to permit the operableconnection of the first end 125 to the housing 105. In at least someembodiments, a gasket or other compressible member can be disposed aboutthe first end 125 to permit the formation of a water-proof anddust-tight seal between the first end 125 and the housing 105.

As used herein, an “operable connection”, or a connection by whichentities are “operably connected”, is one in which the entities areconnected in a manner whereby the one entity is in some way attached orotherwise attached to a second entity. An operable connection can bedirectly between the first and the second entities, for example throughthe use of threaded fasteners, nails, chemical adhesives, weldment, orthe like. A direct connection between the first and the second entitiescan be non-detachable, for example through the use of chemical adhesivesor weldment, or detachable, for example through the use of removablefasteners such as threaded fasteners or cam-lock connectors. An operableconnection can be indirectly between the first and the second entitiesvia one or more intermediate entities, for example a piston can beoperatively connected to a crankshaft via a connecting rod, anintermediate entity.

In at least some embodiments, the tensioning member 135 can include anynumber of systems, devices, or any combination of systems and devicessuitable for maintaining sufficient tension on the flexible member 120to maintain the flexible member proximate the housing 105 at all times.In at least some embodiments, the tensioning member can include anelastomeric band extending about at least a portion of the perimeter ofthe flexible member 120, and detachably or non-detachably anchored atboth ends to the housing 105.

FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view depicting one example of theconnector apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 1, according to one or moreembodiments. FIG. 2A is a partial sectional view depicting one exampleof the connector apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 2, according to one ormore embodiments. In FIGS. 2 and 2A, the second end 130 of the flexiblemember 120 is depicted detached from the second aperture 115, exposing amating surface 205 within the second aperture 115 and a gasket 210 aboutthe second end 130. In at least some embodiments, at least one interface215, for example an electronic device interface, can be disposed inwhole or in part within the second end 130. The tensioning member 135can be displaced when the second end 130 is detached from the secondaperture 115, to provide a suitable extension, slack, or “play” in thehollow, flexible, member 120 to permit the attachment of a device (notshown in FIGS. 2 and 2A) to the at least one interface 215.

In at least some embodiments, a mating surface 205 can be disposed inwhole or in part about the interior of the second aperture 115 on thehousing 105. In at least some embodiments, at least one gasket 210 canbe disposed about all or a portion of the second end 130 of the hollow,flexible, member 120. In at least some embodiments, at least oneinterface 215 can be disposed within the second end 130 of the flexiblemember 120. In at least some embodiments, all or a portion of the gasket210 can be disposed proximate at least a portion of the mating surface205 when the second end 130 of the flexible member 120 is detachablyattached, inserted or otherwise disposed within the second aperture 115,forming a water-proof and dust-tight seal between the second end 130 andthe housing 105.

In some embodiments, a plurality of conductors (not shown in FIGS. 2 and2A) can be disposed within the hollow, flexible, member 120. In at leastsome embodiments, at least a portion of the plurality of conductors cancommunicatively couple one or more components disposed at leastpartially within the housing 105 with the at least one interface 215disposed at least partially within the second end 130 of the hollow,flexible, member 120. For example, in one embodiment a plurality ofconductors can be disposed within the hollow, flexible, member 120, andat least a portion of the conductors can communicatively couple aninput/output (“I/O”) controller with a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”)interface 215 disposed within the second end 120 of the flexible member120. While a USB interface is used as an illustrative example, otherinterfaces can be similarly employed, for example an IEEE 1394(“Firewire”) interface; a High Definition Multimedia Interface (“HDMI”);a Digital Video Interface (“DVI”); a Video Graphics Array (“VGA”)interface; an Ethernet interface; an External Serial Advanced TechnologyAttachment (“eSATA”) interface; or any similar multi-conductor interface215 can be used.

As used herein, the term “communicative coupling”, or a connection bywhich entities are “communicatively coupled”, is one by whichelectromagnetic signals, physical communications, and/or logicalcommunications may be sent and/or received. Typically, a communicativecoupling includes a physical interface, an electrical interface, and/ora data interface, but it is to be noted that an communicative couplingmay include differing combinations of these or other types ofconnections sufficient to allow intermittent or continuous communicationor control. For example, two entities can be communicatively coupled bybeing able to communicate signals to each other directly or through oneor more intermediate entities like a processor, operating system, alogic device, software, or other entity. Logical and/or physicalcommunication channels can be used to create a communicative coupling.

The mating surface 205 disposed within the second aperture 115 can haveany size, shape, orientation, or geometry suitable for establishing awater-proof and dust-tight seal with the gasket 210 disposed about thesecond end 130 of the hollow, flexible, member 120. Without limitation,the mating surface 205 can include a planar mating surface, a chamferedmating surface, a notched mating surface, or a grooved mating surface,an illustrative planar mating surface disposed within the secondaperture 115 is depicted in FIGS. 2 and 2A. The mating surface 205 canbe any material capable of providing a water-proof and dust-tight sealwhen disposed proximate the gasket 210. The mating surface 205 can be arigid, flexible, or semi-rigid surface.

The gasket 210 can be disposed in whole or in part about the second end130 of the hollow, flexible, member 120. The gasket 210 can include anynumber of systems, devices, or any combination of systems and devicessuitable for providing a water-proof and dust-tight seal when disposedproximate the mating surface 205. In at least some embodiments, thegasket 210 can include one or more elastomeric sealing devices, forexample one or more “O-rings” or the like as illustrated in the exampleembodiment depicted in FIGS. 2 and 2A.

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view depicting one example of a connectorsystem 300, according to one or more embodiments. As depicted in FIG. 3,a device 305, for example a USB storage device, can have an interface310 complementary to the interface 215 disposed within the second end130 of the hollow, flexible, member 120. Although a USB device 305 isdepicted in FIG. 3, a device having any interface 310 can be similarlyused, provided a complementary interface 215 is provided on the secondend 130 of the hollow, flexible, member 120. While the device 305 isillustratively depicted as a wireless device in FIG. 3, the device 305can include any wired device having an interface 310, for example adisplay unit having a VGA, HDMI, or DVI interface disposed on the end ofa cable.

FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view depicting another example of theconnector system 300 depicted in FIG. 3, according to one or moreembodiments. As depicted in FIG. 4, the device interface 310 can becommunicatively coupled to the at least one interface 215 disposedwithin the second end 130 of the hollow, flexible, member 120. In atleast some embodiments, the communicative coupling of the device 305 tothe at least one interface 215 can permit an electronic device disposedat least partially within the housing 105 to access one or more featuresor capabilities of the device 305. For example, communicative coupling awireless USB dongle device 305 to the at least one interface 215 canpermit an electronic device disposed within the housing 105 to accessone or more wireless I/O devices such as a wireless keyboard or mouse.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof isdetermined by the claims that follow.

1. A connector apparatus comprising: a housing having at least a firstaperture and a second aperture; a hollow, flexible member having a firstend and a second end; wherein the first end is non-detachably attachedto the first aperture; and wherein the second end is detachably attachedto the second aperture; a tensioning member disposed to bias the hollow,flexible member towards the housing a plurality of conductors disposedwithin the hollow member; and at least one interface disposed at leastpartially within the second end, the at least one interfacecommunicatively coupled at least a portion of the plurality ofconductors.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a channeldisposed at least partially on a surface of the housing, the channelconnecting the first aperture and the second aperture.
 3. The apparatusof claim 2, wherein the hollow, flexible member is disposed at leastpartially within the channel.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein thetensioning member biases at least a portion of the hollow, flexiblemember at least partially within the channel.
 5. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the first end is non-detachably attached using fastenerdisposed about the first aperture.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one fastener disposed on the first end of the hollowflexible member, the at least one fastener adapted to provide, whenattached to the housing, a water-proof and dust-tight seal between thefirst end and the housing.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thehousing comprises an enclosure disposed at least partially about acomputing device comprising a processor and at least one input/outputcontroller.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least oneinterface is selected from the group of interfaces consisting of: aUniversal Serial Bus (“USB”) interface; an IEEE 1394 (“Firewire”)interface; a High Definition Multimedia Interface (“HDMI”); a DigitalVideo Interface (“DVI”); a Video Graphics Array (“VGA”) interface; anEthernet interface; and an External Serial Advanced TechnologyAttachment (“eSATA”) interface.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein amating surface is disposed at least partially within the secondaperture, and wherein a gasket is disposed at least partially about thesecond end of the hollow, flexible member; the mating surface and gasketadapted to provide a water-proof and dust-tight seal when the second endis detachably attached to the second aperture.
 10. A connection system,comprising: an electronic device at least partially disposed within ahousing; the housing comprising a first aperture and a second aperture;a hollow, flexible member comprising a first end and a second end routedacross at least one surface forming the housing; wherein the first endis non-detachably attached to at least a portion of the first aperture;and wherein the second end is detachably attached to at least a portionof the second aperture; a tensioning member disposed to bias the hollow,flexible member towards the housing a plurality of conductors disposedwithin the hollow, flexible member; and at least one interface disposedat least partially within the second end of the hollow, flexible member,wherein at least a portion of the plurality of conductors arecommunicatively coupled to at least a portion of the interface.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, further comprising: a mating surface disposed atleast partially within the second aperture; and a gasket disposed atleast partially about the second end of the hollow, flexible member;wherein the mating surface and the gasket are adapted to provide awater-proof and dust-light seal when the second end is detachablyattached to the second aperture.
 12. The system of claim 10, furthercomprising a device having a complementary interface communicativelycoupled to the at least one interface.
 13. The system of claim 10,wherein the at least one interface is selected from the group ofinterfaces consisting of: a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) interface; anIEEE 1394 (“Firewire”) interface; a High Definition Multimedia Interface(“HDMI”); a Digital Video Interface (“DVI”); a Video Graphics Array(“VGA”) interface; an Ethernet interface; and an External SerialAdvanced Technology Attachment (“eSATA”) interface.